As his Springboks toured Europe in the autumn their head coach Rassie Erasmus was magnanimously philosophical when invited to comment on the way in which his side comes up against fellow products of South African rugby at every turn.
It was something he and his compatriots readily accepted, he explained, such is the production line of talent that means several hundred South African players are making professional livings all over the world. When talent is so abundant it is inevitable that some quality operators slip through the cracks and, for example, Munster and Ireland back-row forward CJ Stander would now be a Springboks if still available to them.
Scotland has meanwhile long been another favoured destination for those leaving the Republic to make careers for themselves, but the latest of those to do so is retracing the path travelled in the opposite direction two generations ago.
“My dad was born in South Africa, that’s where the surname Steyn comes from, it doesn’t sound very Scottish (but) middle name’s Douglas after my grandad, who was born here and my mum was born here as well,” explained Kyle Steyn, Glasgow Warriors’ new signing, who will make his debut on the wing against Cardiff Blues tomorrow. “My grandad was an engineer and they moved over to South Africa and I was born there. He was from Bearsden, a local boy in Glasgow. My gran was born in Perth and then they met here in Glasgow, had my mum and her older sister, then moved to South Africa and their two younger sisters were born there. South Africa had a real shortage of engineers at the time, so he found a good opportunity and I think wanted some sun.”
In effect, then, this is the latest example of return on investment and the 25-year-old is now the one enjoying the change of climate.
“It’s all good. I think I’ve got a bit of his (grandad’s) blood in me and I’ve never been opposed to the cold. I’d probably choose cold weather over hot if I had to choose. The sun’s a bit harsh on my skin anyway and my hair shines a bit red in the sun,” he said with a laugh.
Initially recruited by the Scotland sevens set-up he gets his chance partly because another South African-born winger, DTH van der Merwe will miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury, while there are others of similar background in the camp.
“I didn’t know Oli (Kebble) and Huw (Jones) before I came over, but Huw and I have the same agent, so I knew that it could be done. I hadn’t spoken to them, but it’s good to have a few familiar accents over here,” he said.
All in all, then, it seems this is yet another who has no reason to regret his decision to depart his homeland seeking his fortune overseas and he is ready for the challenges ahead.
“When it’s a club with a history as rich as this and with the position they’re in at the moment it’s a huge honour to sign for them, so I didn’t have to think twice,” he said. “I’m raring to go, really excited for the opportunity that’s been given to me and I can’t wait to get out there and carry on the legacy that’s been there before me.”
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